U.S. patent number 4,118,888 [Application Number 05/725,941] was granted by the patent office on 1978-10-10 for articulated magnetic doll.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Takara Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Iwakichi Ogawa.
United States Patent |
4,118,888 |
Ogawa |
October 10, 1978 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Articulated magnetic doll
Abstract
A versatile articulated magnetic toy having removable appendages
is provided. Body shells encapsulate a magnet and pair of armature
plates. The armature plates include beveled edges to form joints
and are retained on either side of the magnet by the magnetic flux.
The magnet is hollow and can be aligned by the respective body
shells and can further accommodate a chest cavity projectile firing
mechanism. The appendages advantageously resemble humanoid arms and
legs. An arm appendage can include a spring-loaded firing mechanism
capable of discharging the first portion of the arm as a
projectile. The ease with which the appendages can be removed
permits the addition of various accessories to form modified toy
assemblies.
Inventors: |
Ogawa; Iwakichi (Chiba,
JP) |
Assignee: |
Takara Co., Ltd. (Tokyo,
JP)
|
Family
ID: |
24916553 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/725,941 |
Filed: |
September 23, 1976 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
446/92; 124/16;
446/309; 446/97; 473/578 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63H
3/16 (20130101); A63H 33/26 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63H
3/00 (20060101); A63H 3/16 (20060101); A63H
33/26 (20060101); A63H 033/26 (); A63H
013/16 () |
Field of
Search: |
;46/241,145,22,206
;124/16,37 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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|
|
|
|
|
|
1,027,473 |
|
Apr 1958 |
|
DE |
|
1,032,613 |
|
Jun 1956 |
|
DE |
|
514,679 |
|
Feb 1955 |
|
IT |
|
Primary Examiner: Shay; F. Barry
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Jackson; Harold L. Jones; Stanley
R. Price; Joseph W.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An articulated toy having removable appendages comprising;
a hollow housing having at least front and rear shell members;
a magnet having an aperture operatively positioned within the
hollow housing;
a pair of armature plates operatively connected to said magnet, at
least one joint portion being formed between the armature plates to
receive a complimentarily shaped joint on an appendage; and
means for securing said housing shell members and aligning said
magnet and armature plate, said means extending through the magnet
aperture to interconnect said shell members.
2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the means for securing and
aligning includes at least one alignment post.
3. The invention of claim 1 further including a plurality of holes
on the front shell and a firing mechanism capable of projecting a
simulated rocket further having a plurality of alignment pins
extending through said shell holes.
4. The invention of claim 1 further including an arm appendage
including a firing mechanism capable of projecting an object and a
fist projectile having one end configured to simulate a closed fist
and the other end formed into a shaft member with a retaining disk
for engaging the firing mechanism.
5. The invention of claim 1 wherein an arm appendage includes a
firing mechanism for discharging the fist portion as a
projectile.
6. An articulated toy having removable appendages comprising;
a hollow housing including a first and second breast member and a
first and second waist member;
a magnet having an aperture being operatively positioned by the
housing;
a first and second armature plate attached to respective sides of
the magnet only by its magnetic flux, at least one joint portion
formed between the armature plates to receive a complimentarily
shaped joint on an appendage;
means for detachably securing said housing members about said
magnet and armature plates, and
a spring loaded projectile firing mechanism having an actuator is
mounted within the housing, the actuator extending through the
magnet aperture and housing to permit actuation exterior of the
housing.
7. The invention of claim 6 further including an arm appendage
having a firing mechanism for discharging the fist portion of the
arm as a projectile.
8. The invention of claim 6 further including a plurality of
appendages configured and positioned to represent respectively
arms, legs and a head member.
9. The invention of claim 2 wherein the joint portion is formed by
beveled edges of the first and second armature plates.
10. An articulated magnetic doll capable of firing projectiles
comprising;
a hollow housing having at least a front and rear shell member,
said front shell having at least one alignment hole and said rear
shell having a firing mechanism alignment receptacle;
a magnet having an aperture operatively positioned within the
hollow housing;
armature plate joint means operatively connected to said magnet to
provide at least one joint portion to receive a complimentarily
shaped joint on an appendage;
a projectile, and
a firing mechanism for propelling said projectile having an
actuator extending through said rear shell, said firing mechanism
extending through said magnet aperture to operatively connect with
said rear shell firing mechanism alignment receptacle and further
having an alignment member for insertion within said alignment hole
in said front shell.
11. The invention of claim 10 further including second means for
discharging projectiles.
12. The invention of claim 11 wherein the second means for
discharging projectile includes a spring loaded removable appendage
simulating an arm.
13. The invention of claim 10 further including an appendage
configured to represent an arm including a second firing mechanism
capable of projecting an object and a fist projectile having one
end configured to simulate a closed fist and the other end formed
into a shaft member with a retaining disk for engaging the second
firing mechanism.
14. The invention of claim 13 wherein said armature plate joint
means includes a pair of armature plates having an oblong slot
complimentarily to said magnet aperture.
15. The invention of claim 13 wherein said arm appendage further
includes a hinge member between said joint means and said firing
mechanism to permit relative movement.
16. An articulated magnetized toy doll having removable appendages
comprising:
a hollow body member having a first and second breast member and a
first and second waist member;
hollow magnetic means operatively positioned within the body member
for removably retaining the articulated appendages;
a first spring-loaded projectile firing mechanism having an
actuator being mounted within the body member, the actuator
extending through the hollow magnetic means to permit actuation
exterior of the body member;
a plurality of removable appendages simulating humanoid arms and
legs, at least one arm appendage containing joint means for
articulated connection with said magnetic means;
a second manually operated firing mechanism for discharging a
portion of the simulated appendage as a projectile having an
exterior actuator lever, and
a projectile configured and positioned on the second firing
mechanism to simulate a closed fist at one end, the other end of
the projectile formed into a shaft member with a retaining disk for
releasable engagement with the second firing mechanism.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a magnetic toy having
removable appendages and more particularly to an articulated toy
doll having an interior magnet securing a pair of armature
plates.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Magnets have been utilized in the toy industry for various purposes
such as adhering magnetizable members to a basic structure.
Examples of magnetized structures in the toy industry can be found
in the Gordon U.S. Pat. No. 3,090,155 and in the Yonkers U.S. Pat.
No 2,970,388. Under examples of magnetic structures for retaining
removable items can be found in the Budreck U.S. Pat. No. 3,041,697
and the Italian Pat. No. 514,679 directed to a magnetized life-size
manikin.
It is always a goal of the prior art to provide an easily
assembleable and relatively inexpensive construction to meet the
highly competitive demands of the toy industry. Likewise, an
additional goal is to provide unique and novel features which
appeal to children.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an articulated toy utilizing a
magnetic force for retaining removable appendages. A hollow magnet
can be operatively positioned within body housing shells. Held to
the magnet by its magnetic flux are a first and second armature
plate having joint portions formed there between with beveled cuts.
The joint portions secure the appendages in any desired
position.
Preferably, the articulated toy has a humanoid appearance and the
appendages can simulate arms and legs. At least one of the
appendages can contain a manually operated firing mechanism for
discharging a portion of the simulated appendage as a projectile.
For example, an arm appendage can contain a spring loaded mechanism
within its forearm for firing a projectile fist. Additionally, the
body cavity can also include a spring loaded projectile firing
mechanism. Since the appendages are removable, accessory toy items
can be appended to the body and various subcombinations of toy
assemblies are possible, limited only by the imagination of the
child.
The features of the present invention which are believed to be
novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The
present invention, both as to its organization and manner of
operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof,
may best be understood by reference to the following description,
taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an articulated toy of the
present invention;
FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of an articulated toy doll,
and
FIG. 3 is a side view of a modified articulated toy doll of the
present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The following description is provided to enable persons skilled in
the toy industry to make and use the invention and sets forth the
best modes contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his
invention. Various modifications, however, will remain readily
apparent to those skilled in the art, since the generic principles
of the present invention have been defined herein specifically to
provide a toy assembly that can be manufactured in a relatively
economical manner. The mode of the present invention specifically
described in the accompanying drawing is in the form of a
mechanical or robot man. Variations of this design structure to
provide other forms of toy designs within the parameters of the
present invention is possible.
Referring to FIG. 1, an articulated toy assembly in the form of a
robot doll is disclosed in an exploded perspective. The body of the
doll encapsulates magnetic means for providing magnetic flux to
retain appropriate appendages. The exterior body or hollow housing
2, includes a pair of housing half shells or breast members 4 and 6
a pair of waist half shells 8 and 10. Aligned within the exterior
body structure is a hollow or apertured magnet 12 and a pair of
armature plates 14 and 16.
The armature poles or plates 14 and 16 are identically cut from a
sheet of thin steel and having a central opening corresponding to
the configuration of the cavity in the hollow magnet 12. Arcuate
cuts 52 on the periphery of the respective plates are aligned so
that an arcuate cut on one plate will form a joint portion with an
arcuate cut on the other plate. These joint portions have a beveled
edge 54 that are complimentary to the spherical configuration of
the ball joints 56 that are mounted on respective appendages to be
subsequently discussed.
An alignment post 18 on the rear half shell 4 and a corresponding
alignment post 20 on the waist half shell 8 are designed to
position the magnet 12 and the respective armature plates 14 and 16
within the body 2. These respective mounting posts can be
positioned either on the front half shell 6 or on the rear half
shell 4.
The rear breast half shell 4 further includes an alignment
receptacle 22 for receiving a firing actuator 24. A pair of pins 26
on the actuator 24 are designed to rest on alignment shoulders 28
in the alignment receptacle 22.
Breast half shells 4 and 6 include appropriate semicircular
peripheral edge openings 58 that have a complimentary beveled edge
60 of approximately the same common radius of curvature as the
beveled edge 54 on the arcuate cuts 52. Thus, a spherical
configuration complimentary to the spherical ball joints 56 on the
appendages are provided to provide an adequate contact for the
transmission of magnetic flux and for relative freedom of movement
of the appendage.
An actuator lever 30 extends through and exteriorly of the rear
half shell 4. A firing mechanism 32 is aligned with the breast half
shell 6 through a series of alignment pins 34 that extend through a
series of holes 36 in the front half shell 6. The firing mechanism
32 also extends through the cavity of the magnet 12 and mates with
the alignment receptacle 22 to capture an actuator spring 38.
The actuator spring 38 seats against a shoulder 40 on the actuator
24. The spring 38 biases the lever 30 in an upper vertical
direction about its pins 26. When the spring is depressed by the
insertion of a projectile such as the rocket 42, a disk 44 on the
rocket will cam a hook 46 of the actuator 24 upward until it passes
inwardly and permits the hook 46 to capture and retain the
projectile 42 against the bias of the spring force. A vertical
downward depression of the actuator 30 will release the hook 46 and
accordingly, permit the rocket to be propelled by the spring energy
as shown in FIG. 2.
The respective breast half shells and waist half shells can be held
together by screws 48 and 50 respectively. Alignment pins and
complimentary holes (not shown) can be provided on the various half
shells as known in the art. Preferably the half shells are plastic
parts.
As disclosed in each of the figures, the preferred embodiment of
the present invention is a humanoid or robot-like shaped toy. In
this regard, the appendages have some simulation to that of a
human; that is, a pair of legs 62 and 64, a pair of arms 66 and 68
and a head 70 are provided. Both the arm and leg appendages are
further individually articulated with movable joints or hinges
72.
The arm appendages 66 and 68 are additionally novel in that the
forearm housing 74 of each arm appendage includes a projectile
firing mechanism. In this regard a hooked lever 76 somewhat
analogous to the chest actuator 24 is pivotally mounted in a
longitudinal slot in the forearm 74. A compression spring 78 is
mounted against a shoulder on the lever 76.
A simulated fist projectile 80 has a rear extending shaft
terminating in a disk 82 that is capable of camming the hooked end
of the lever 76 upward to be fastened by the hook. By the
appropriate depression of the lever 76, the spring energy is
released and the fist projectile 80 is fired. Referring to FIG. 2 a
schematic of the present invention is disclosed with both the
rocket projectile 42 and the fist projectile 80 being fired.
FIG. 3 discloses a further modification of the present invention
wherein an accessory simulated rocket attachment 84 can be mounted
directly on the back of the exterior body 2 or with an adaptor 86
attached directly to an arm socket joint. The cone shaped portion
88 of the rocket can be removable and can also form a projectile
for firing from either the chest or forearms of the toy.
Finally, the armature plates 14 and 16, shown in FIG. 1, are held
in place by the flux of the magnet 12. The beveled cuts 54 on the
joints 52 insure an adequate surface contact with the spherical
joints 56 of each of the appendages. This contact is sufficient to
permit an optional placement of the appendage at any rotational
position with the assurance that it will remain relatively
stationary.
The present invention not only provides a unique and versatile toy,
but it permits a relatively inexpensive construction with a minimum
of manufacturing problems. Since various modifications can be made
within the scope of the present invention by a person skilled in
the toy industry, the present invention should be measured solely
from the following claims in which I claim.
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